Glee featured multiple major and secondary roles who have contributed vocals to the show: Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Dianna Agron, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, Jayma Mays, Jane Lynch, Chord Overstreet, Darren Criss, Harry Shum, Jr., Damian McGinty, Vanessa Lengies, Samuel Larsen, Blake Jenner, Alex Newell, Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist, and Dean Geyer. Numerous special guests have also featured on tracks, including Jonathan Groff, Kristin Chenoweth, Grant Gustin, Olivia Newton-John, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Idina Menzel, Charice, Gwyneth Paltrow, k.d. lang, Ricky Martin, Matt Bomer, Kate Hudson, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
The pilot episode of the show was broadcast on May 19, 2009 and the first season began airing on September 9, 2009. The show was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan. Murphy selects all music featured within the series himself, with the intent of maintaining a balance between show tunes and chart hits. Songs featured on the show are available for digital download through iTunes up to two weeks before new episodes air, and through other digital outlets and mobile carriers a week later.
Their debut single, "Don't Stop Believin'", a cover of the 1981 Journey song, was a top ten hit, and was certified platinum in Australia and gold in the US. The group's cover of The All-American Rejects' "Gives You Hell" reached number one in Ireland, giving them their first number one single.
There has been Nineteen soundtracks released through Columbia Records: Glee: The Music, Volume 1, Glee: The Music, Volume 2, Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers, Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Glee: The Music, Volume 4, Glee: The Music, Volume 5, Glee: The Music, Volume 6, Glee: The Music, Volume 7 and Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2,Glee: The Music, Volume 7,Glee: The Music, The Graduation Album,Glee: The Music, Season 4, Volume 1,Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 3,Glee Sings the Beatles and Glee: The Music - Celebrating 100 Episodes.
Nineteen EPs have also been released: Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna, Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals,Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show.Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show,Glee: The Music, Love Songs,Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show,Glee: The Music, Love Songs,Glee: The Music, Dance Party,Britney 2.0,Glee: The Music Presents Glease,The Quarterback (Music from the TV Series),A Katy or a Gaga (Music from the Episode),Movin' Out,Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 4,City of Angels,New New York,Glee: The Music, Bash,Glee: The Music, Tested,Glee: The Music, Opening Night,Glee: The Music, the Back Up Plan,Glee: The Music, Old Dog, New Tricks,Glee: The Music – The Untitled Rachel Berry Project,Glee: The Music – Loser Like Me and Glee: The Music – Homecoming.
The cast is second behind The Beatles for most chart appearances by a group act in the Billboard Hot 100's history, and holds the record of sixth overall among all artists, with sixty-nine appearances. The cast has sold over thirty six million and over eleven million albums worldwide. The series' cover versions have also had a positive effect on the original recording artists, with sales of Rihanna's "Take a Bow" increasing by 189 percent after the song was covered in the Glee episode "Showmance".
The series features covers of numerous songs sung on-screen by the characters. Musical segments typically take the form of performances, as opposed to the characters singing spontaneously, as the intention is for the series to remain reality-based. Murphy is responsible for selecting all of the songs used, and strives to maintain a balance between show tunes and chart hits, as: "I want there to be something for everybody in every episode. That's a tricky mix, but that's very important — the balancing of that." Song choices are integral to script development, with Murphy explaining: "Each episode has a theme at its core. After I write the script, I will choose songs that help to move the story along."
Glee is choreographed by Zach Woodlee, and features five to eight production numbers per episode. Once music rights are cleared, songs are arranged and pre-recorded by the cast. Woodlee constructs the accompanying dance moves, which are then taught to the cast and filmed. Numbers can take several weeks to prepare, depending on complexity. Each episode costs at least $3 million to produce, and can take up to 10 days to film as a result of the elaborate choreography.
Broadway Baby
Glee Cast Lyrics
Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking on my tired feet
Pounding 42nd street
To be in a show, oh
Broadway baby
Learning how to sing and dance
Waitin' for that one big chance
Gee, I′d like to be
On some marquee
All twinkling lights
A spark to pierce the dark
From Battery Park
To Washington Heights
Some day maybe
All my dreams will be repaid
Heck, I'd even play the maid
To be in a show
Hey, Mr. producer
I'm talkin′ to you sir
I don′t need a lot
Only what I got
Plus a tube of greasepaint and a follow spot
I'm a Broadway baby
Broadway baby
Slaving at a five and ten (Ooh, yeah)
Dreaming of the great day when
I′ll be in a show (Oh, oh, oh)
Hey, hey
I'm a Broadway baby
Broadway baby
Making rounds all afternoon
Eating at a greasy spoon
To save on my dough
At my tiny flat there′s just my cat
A bed and a chair
Still I'll stick it ′til
I'm on a bill'
All over Times Square
Oh, some day maybe
If I stick it long enough
I may get to strut my stuff
Working for a nice man
Like a Ziegfeld or a Weissman
In a great big Broadway Show
I'm just a Broadway baby
I am a hopeful performer in the world of Broadway
Walking on my tired feet
Continuously working hard and putting in effort to achieve my dreams
Pounding 42nd street
Navigating the bustling streets of Broadway, seeking opportunities
To be in a show, oh
Yearning to be a part of a grand theatrical production
Broadway baby
An aspiring performer with dreams of success on Broadway
Learning how to sing and dance
Acquiring the necessary skills in singing and dancing for a potential career
Waitin' for that one big chance
Anticipating the opportunity that could change my life and launch my career
To be in a show, oh
Longing to be cast in a magnificent production on the Broadway stage
Gee, I'd like to be
Expressing a strong desire to become
On some marquee
Yearning to see my name up in lights on a theater billboard
All twinkling lights
The glamorous display of illuminated signs and spotlights in the theater district
A spark to pierce the dark
A metaphor for shining brightly and standing out amidst the crowd
From Battery Park
From the southernmost tip of Manhattan
To Washington Heights
To the northernmost neighborhood of Manhattan
Some day maybe
Possibly in the future
All my dreams will be repaid
Hoping that all my aspirations will be fulfilled and rewarded
Heck, I'd even play the maid
Expressing a willingness to take any role, even minor ones, in order to be in a show
To be in a show
To achieve the ultimate goal of being part of a Broadway production
Hey, Mr. producer
Addressing a potential producer or decision-maker in the theater industry
I'm talkin' to you sir
Directly engaging with the person in a respectful manner
I don't need a lot
Asserting that minimal resources are required
Only what I got
Making the most of the existing abilities and possessions
Plus a tube of greasepaint and a follow spot
Highlighting the basic theatrical tools needed, like makeup and a spotlight
I'm a Broadway baby
Identifying oneself as an aspiring performer in the world of Broadway
Slaving at a five and ten
Working tirelessly at a humble job
Dreaming of the great day when
Imagining the future moment of achieving success
I'll be in a show
Being part of a theatrical production
Hey, hey
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement
Making rounds all afternoon
Visiting various places of interest and relevance to my theater career
Eating at a greasy spoon
Having meals at inexpensive and modest establishments
To save on my dough
To conserve money and be thrifty
At my tiny flat there's just my cat
Living in a small apartment with only a feline companion
A bed and a chair
Having minimal furniture and belongings
Still I'll stick it 'til I'm on a bill'
Persevering and enduring until being featured on a theater playbill
All over Times Square
Being recognized and celebrated throughout the iconic Times Square
Oh, some day maybe
Hoping that one day, perhaps in the future
If I stick it long enough
If I persist and remain dedicated for a considerable duration
I may get to strut my stuff
Having the opportunity to confidently showcase my talents
Working for a nice man
Employed by a respectable and kind employer
Like a Ziegfeld or a Weissman
Referring to well-known theater producers known for their grand productions
In a great big Broadway Show
Being cast in a magnificent and prominent Broadway production
Writer(s): Stephen Sondheim
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sylarsshades4921
The twin energy in this song is so strong, they're legit the perfect duo
@jasmine511
They give off a lot of Sharpay and Ryan vibes in this song
@goldrush18x
We were robbed of Blaine and Rachel as fraternal twins... big Sharpay and Ryan vibes
@BookishRaider
Woopi Goldberg's facial expression 100 perfect when she saw Blaine just enter out of nowhere. It was funny.
@megtravers327
Did Blaine ever get into Nyada?
@eunicesanchez7285
Meg Travers Yep, he’s already a student in the scene
@May04bwu
I always laugh during that part. She's so mad lol
@SPOK81303
She’s mad because it was a solo comp. not a duet
@BookishRaider
Ian Harmon very good point, I still though that her facial expression was hilarious at this point in time isn’t the series
@adarool3333
Rachel’s dress appreciation comment. Like if you agree